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Rugby Union

Henry reappointed by All Blacks

07/12/2007

Graham Henry has been confirmed as the New Zealand rugby union coach after being forced to reapply for his own position.

Henry was told he would not be guaranteed to remain in control of the team after a poor Rugby World Cup campaign that saw them knocked out in the quarter-finals after being touted as virtual certainties to win the Webb Ellis Cup.

However he has been handed the job again on a two-year contract, ahead of the three other shortlisted candidates Colin Cooper, Robbie Deans and Ian Foster.

New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) acting chairman Mike Eagle said: "At the end of the process, the board concluded that Graham Henry was the best candidate for the position.

"We are all disappointed not to have won the Rugby World Cup. In that regard, the NZRU board accepts it was jointly responsible and accountable for the result and the planning that went into the campaign.

"We are committed to learning the key lessons, which will be explored in the independent review announced earlier this week."

Anticipating some uneasiness among All Blacks fans about the reappointment of Henry, who presided over their side's most recent failure on the big stage, Eagle said he believes Henry's results over the entire four years of his regime made him the best candidate to take the team forward.

"Graham's record, both on and off the field, is among the best in All Blacks rugby history," he continued.

"He has set a very high standard in coaching, player management, and integration with the wider New Zealand rugby community.

"He has given a lot in a successful period for our game and the board is convinced he has more to give… As a result, we believe that in the best interests of New Zealand rugby Graham and his team were the right choice."

Henry himself said he is "very grateful" for the opportunity to continue in his role, saying he had "leant lessons" from the disappointment in France.

"We have been a strong and successful team over the last few years but we were hugely disappointed we didn't bring the World Cup back for New Zealanders," he added.

"We have learnt lessons from this campaign and we now look forward to being able to build on those learnings and the experience we have."